How To Cut Pineapple, 3 Easy Ways

Tools you will need

To cut a pineapple, it's important to choose the right knife and understand its significance. A sharp chef's knife is the best option. The sharpness is essential, as a dull knife will struggle to cut through the pineapple and can be dangerous due to the risk of slipping. Therefore, using a well-maintained sharp knife is actually safer.

You'll also need a cutting board and a bowl or plate to hold the fruit. It's worth noting that you don't need any specialized tools for cutting pineapple. While there are gadgets designed specifically for this purpose, they are unnecessary and can create clutter in your kitchen.

If you have an apple corer or a small round biscuit cutter, these can be handy for removing the core from the slices. However, if you don't have these tools, a knife will work just fine.

Picking a ripe pineapple

When selecting a pineapple, rely on your senses. Start by examining its appearance. If the pineapple appears green, it is not yet ripe. Next, give it a sniff; a ripe pineapple will have a pleasant aroma, while an unripe one will lack fragrance.

Feel the pineapple as well. It should be firm to the touch, but not overly hard. There should be a slight softness in the fruit's flesh. By following these tips, you'll be able to choose a pineapple that is sweet and tasty.

Prepping your pineapple

All three slicing techniques begin with the same preparation for your pineapple. Start by placing the pineapple horizontally on the cutting board.

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Remove the top and bottom of the pineapple, resulting in a spiky cylindrical shape with two flat surfaces.

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Position the pineapple upright on one of the flat surfaces. With your non-dominant hand holding the pineapple, use your dominant hand to take the knife and carefully cut along the sides, removing the tough and spiky outer skin.

Cutting rounds

To create rounds, place your peeled pineapple on its side again.

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Using your knife, slice the pineapple into pieces that are between ¼ and ½ inches thick.

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After you've cut all the rounds, it's time to remove the core from the center. If you have an apple corer or a small round biscuit cutter, you can use it to punch out the core from each slice.

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If you don’t have those tools, simply use the tip of your knife to carefully cut out the core from each piece.

Cutting sticks

To slice your pineapple into sticks, start by standing the peeled pineapple upright. Make lengthwise cuts down the sides, avoiding the tough core in the center. You should end up with approximately four sections.

Next, take each pineapple section and slice it lengthwise into one-inch sticks, one piece at a time.

If the sticks are too long, feel free to cut them in half lengthwise to achieve shorter pieces.

Cutting chunks

To slice your pineapple into chunks, start by standing the peeled pineapple upright. Make lengthwise cuts down the sides, avoiding the tough central core. This will yield approximately four sections.

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Take each of the four sections individually and slice them crosswise into your preferred chunk sizes. A one-inch size is a good reference point, but you can opt for smaller pieces based on your needs.

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Next, rotate the pineapple sections and make lengthwise cuts again. As before, one inch is a suitable starting size, but feel free to cut smaller if necessary. Repeat this process with all the remaining sections.

How to store pineapple

After you've finished cutting, it's important to steer clear of common storage errors that could spoil your pineapples. Whole, uncut pineapples should be kept on the counter until they ripen, and they can remain there for that duration. Once they are ripe, they will stay fresh for up to three days.

On the other hand, cut pineapple needs to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. In the fridge, it should be kept in an airtight container, where it can last for about a week. If you choose to freeze pineapple, it should also be placed in an airtight container, allowing it to remain good for up to a year.

To freeze pineapple effectively, we suggest laying the pieces out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and placing them in the freezer. Once the pieces are fully frozen, you can transfer them to an airtight container. This method will help keep the pieces from clumping together.

Ways to use cut pineapple

There are numerous delightful ways to enjoy pineapple. Some methods are well-established favorites, like the traditional piña colada. Others spark debate, such as the addition of pineapple to Hawaiian pizza.

Pineapple is also scrumptious when grilled and pairs wonderfully with various cheeses. With its unique blend of sweetness and acidity, the options for using this fruit are limitless.